Wildest Dreams - By Rosanne Bittner Page 0,16

he continued bitterly. "He more or less told me to take the money and leave, that in good conscience and in fairness to my brother, he couldn't see letting me inherit any part of the family business and family fortune he had worked so hard to build."

Lettie could feel his pain. "Luke, I'm sorry. What a terrible thing for a father to do."

He breathed deeply, as though to stay in control of his emotions. "Maybe now you understand how I feel about Nathan," he said, his voice strained. "I know how it feels to be an outcast. And I know how it feels to be unloved, to be raised by a man, call him father, then find out he practically hates your guts." He turned to face her, and Lettie didn't need full light to know there were tears in his eyes. "I would never do that to Nathan, Lettie. We'll tell him his real father was killed in a raid. He'll know I'm his step-father, but I'll love him just as much as if my own blood ran in his veins. He'll feel that love, be as close to me as he would to any real father. Whatever I build in Montana, however wealthy I might become, he will share in it equally with whatever children we have together. I promise you that."

Lettie smiled through tears. "I believe you, and I love you for it." She walked closer and touched his arm. "Luke, I think your father was wrong, terribly wrong. And any woman who could produce such a fine and handsome man as you couldn't have been bad. I'll bet she was very beautiful, too."

Luke pulled her close. "My father didn't give me a lot, but it's enough to get started on. I intend to show him and my brother that I can do as well or better. I don't need his damn inheritance." He kissed her hair. "Lettie, it won't be easy at first, but I promise you that someday, you'll live like a queen. I'll make that happen, no matter what it takes. Whatever you have to suffer at first, I'll make up for it a hundred times. Some day we'll have lots more children, and you'll be living in a fine home, the wife of one of the biggest landowners in Montana!"

He let go of her then, taking hold of her hands instead. "They've already found gold up there, Lettie, but that's not what I'm after. It's the land—lots of it—for free if I homestead it. Some don't think that's worth anything right now, but I think they're wrong. Who knows what kind of minerals are under what I'll claim? And on top of the ground there's rich grass for grazing. Hell, they've already started building a railroad that's going to connect California with the East! Once that's done, more settlers will come, especially when the war is over. People who have lost everything will want to start over someplace new, build farms, ranches. I'm going to have a head start on them! Word is, once the railroad comes this way, there will be a big demand for beef, because it will be easier to ship it east. The railroad is coming through Colorado or Wyoming, so I wouldn't have to herd my beef near as far as the ranchers down in Texas will; and I'll have all that rich grass to fatten them up on. The land is the real gold mine, Lettie. There's an Indian problem, but the army will take care of that once the war is over. The Sioux will have to make way for settlement just like other Indians all over the plains have had to do. It's the way of progress, Lettie, and we'll be right there in the middle of it!"

She smiled through tears. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"I'm sure of it, as sure as I am that I love Lettie MacBride."

His own excitement began to move through her blood, and she took comfort in the strength of the hands that held her own. She nodded. "All right. I'll marry you. Just be patient with me, Luke."

He pulled her close again. "I'll never rush you or hurt you. I'll love you, protect you and Nathan, make a home for you." He kissed her forehead. "I should tell you there was another woman I was going to marry, back in St. Louis. Her name was Lynnanne Haley. That was six years ago. When she found out I was